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Miracle Fruit - What's With All the Buzz?

A few months ago, I came across an article in the NY Times’ Dine In/Dine Out section about a new trend that’s taken off called Flavor Tripping Parties (The Miracle Fruit, a Tease for the Taste Buds – NYTimes May 28, 2008). Needless to say, it caught my attention.What’s a flavor tripping party? And better yet, why is the New York Times discussing drugs in the food section? The article continues to discuss a berry that is native to West Africa. According to wikipedia, it was originally discovered by the explorer Chevalier des Marchais during a 1725 excursion. The plant, known in some circles also as Magic Berry, Flavor Berry, and Sideroxylon dulcificum/Synsepalum dulcificum has the interesting property of interacting with our sense of taste in interesting ways.

When consumed, it’s effects are only useful on the tongue. It must coat the taste buds on your tongue and binds with them so that when you consume food, it changes how you taste them! The Chevalier first noticed its usage when observing tribes chewing on the berries before consuming their meals.

Further study into the plant uncovered that the fleshy part of the berry contains a chemical called miraculin – an active glycoprotein molecule – which when bound to our taste buds transforms bitter and sour foods to taste sweet! What a novelty! Apparently, effects can last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

First of all, I’m truly fascinated by this berry and find that it’s not a psychological “tripping.” It’s a purely temporary effect, and it would be very interesting to experience the transformation of foods, especially when you are expecting to taste one flavor, and you experience a different one altogether.

Apparently, the berry is very difficult to procure in the United States – although one may order them online from countries abroad. There also seems to be a freeze-dried version available, which has a longer shelf-life, but more chewing and longer contact with the tongue is required since the substance doesn’t work when consumed (the effect is on the tongue, not the brain – unlike a psychedelic drug the affects your perception by messing with your brain chemistry).

There are a number of online vendors who sell either tablets of freeze dried Miracle Berry – the integrity of which I cannot attest to. However, should anyone come across this berry, or be brave enough to order some, I would LOVE to hear about your experience. Regarding the hechsher/kashrut of these products, short of procuring the actual berry, you would have to consult with your local rabbi.

For those of you with a green thumb, and the energy to care for the plant, it seems that there is a reliable supplier of this plant at Pine Island Nursery.

Just think about some of the uses:

Another boring wedding/bar mitzvah/sheva berachot – just pop the berry/tablet in your mouth, and seconds later all that boring food becomes a lot more interesting!

Hosting another shabbat meal? Offer these to your guests and REALLY get the party started!